Painting Surface
Canvas
Painting canvas? Start here to compare common paint options and find an approach that fits your project.
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Canvas paint compatibility
Whether canvas needs extra preparation depends on the paint and whether the canvas is already primed for it.
| Paint | Compatibility | Preparation | Primer or ground | Finish | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic paint | Excellent | Pre-primed canvas can usually be painted directly; raw canvas should be properly prepared. | Gesso for raw canvas. | Optional varnish. | — |
| Oil paint | Excellent | Use oil-ready pre-primed canvas or size raw canvas before applying a suitable ground. | Artist acrylic gesso or oil ground. | Optional final varnish. | — |